Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,520, Benjamin Dyer, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn
Dyer, Benjamin
No 18520
Wills, Ann
(Former widow)
CONTENTS

Rep.
Connecticut 3359
Mrs. Mills, who was widow of Benjamin Dyer Conn who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 31 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8. day of Dec r 1843 and sent to Benj m Ely Simsbury, Conn.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 72.

State of Connecticut } In Probate Office, District Hartford County } of Canton, March 2, 1843.
Present, Ephraim Hills Esq. Judge.
On this 2 nd day of March, 1843 Ann Mills, a resident of Canton in the District of Canton aforesaid, aged ninety years, came into Court, who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the acts of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, and the 23 rd of August, 1842, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war.
That she was married to Benjamin Dyer, who performed a tour of military service and duty in the revolutionary war as a private in a company of which Abel Dettibene was capt, in Col. Wyllys's Regiment; that said Dyer was marched in the said company, under said capt. Dettibene, from Simsbury in the County of Hartford aforesaid, in the fore part of May, 1775, to Roxbury in State of Massachusetts, at near which place the said Dyer continued & performed duty as a private in said capt. Dettibene's company, until he was regularly discharged in December, 1775.
(See affidavit of Deuben Moshenger's certificate of Henry Gilbourn, Comptroller.)
That said Dyer performed another tour of

military duty as a private in the revolutionary war of two or three months, near New York, in Capt. Zacharias Chase's company, in the summer of 1776. That said Dyer enlisted & served, as she verily believes, six months, in a company commanded by Jonathan Humphry, & was employed as a teamster, in transporting provisions, &c, from Hartford in Connecticut, to the Hudson river.
(See affidavits of Saml. Humphry & Thomas Dyer.) And for the aforementioned services of the said Benjamin Dyer, she claims a pension.
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Dyer, by Ex. Oliver Humphry, in October, 1781; that by reason of age & consequent loss of memory, she does not remember the particular day of the month. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated; and that he, the said Benjamin Dyer, died the 8th day of February, 1815.
She further declares, that after the death of the husband aforesaid, she was married to Jacob Mills by Rev. Pierpont Mockett, July 19th 1821; that said Mr. Mockett was then the Baptist minister in said Canton. — That said Jacob Mills died the 30th

of December, 1822. — and that since his death she has remained and still is, a widow.
Ephraim Mills
Ann her Mills marks
Benjamin Ely
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court, the day and year first above written, viz, March 2 — 1843.
Ephraim Mills Judge of Probate for the District of Canton
I, Addison O. Mills, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Canton, do certify, that Ephraim Mills who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing as above, is Judge of Probate for the District of Canton.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of March, 1843. Addison O. Mills Clerk of Probate Canton District

Benjamin Dyer of Simsbury & Ann Northway of Farm- ington were joined in marriage in Simsbury October the fourth seventeen hundred eighty one by Oliver Humphrey justice of the peace
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "October 4th 1781"
Attest Moses Ensign Town Clerk Simsbury February 25th 1843
I Moses Ensign above named dep- ose and say that I hold the office of town clerk of the town of Simsbury in Hartford County and state of Connecticut and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Simsbury with the exception above named as certified by me
Moses Ensign Town Clerk Subscribed and sworn to this 25th day of February 1843 before me Nehemiah Phelps justice of peace

James Mills & Ann Dyer both of Canton were joined in marriage by Rev Benj. Brackett July nineteenth Eighteen Hundred twenty one.
I certify that the above is a true Copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in four legible figures as follows July 19 th 1821.
Sh. H. Wallock Clerk. of the Town of Canton.
I Sh. H. Wallock above named do hereby say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk of the town of Canton County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Canton with the exception above named as certified by me.
Sh. H. Wallock.
Subscribed and sworn to the 2 nd day of March 1840
Before me
Ephraim Mills Justice of the Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c. /
File No. 1852 d
Ann Mills formerly widow of Benjamin Dyer Priv. Rev War
Act: March 3, 1848
Index:—Vol. M , Page 57
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Connecticut - 7149
Ann Mills, formerly the widow of Benjamin Dyer -
who was a prisoner under the Act of and who died on the 8 th . February 1815 - of Hartford Co in the State of Conn. - who was a private - in the company - commanded by Captain Pettibone of the commanded by Col: Dyer - in the Connecticut - line for 9 mos. & 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 31 — Dollars 33 — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of April 1843 and sent to Reijn: Ely Simsbury, Cont: —
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
$156.65-
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Tallie Stewart — Clerk, Book A — Vol. 1 — Page 196 —

I certify that on application for evidence of the Service of Benjamin Dyer I have examined the Books of pay in this office relating to the War of the Revolution and find A Pay Roll of the 7 th Company of the 2 nd Regiment raised in the Colony of Connecticut for Colonel General Assembly May 1775 Abel Atkinson Captain - Benjamin Dyer private. Commissioned Service to May Discharged 18 December 1775 Making 7 m 12 d and of Wages $ 12.17.4 Comptroller's Office Augt 4 1838
Henry Richardson Comptroller

Hon. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions, Washington.
2.335- 186.05

Simsbury, Conn. March 30 1843.
Hon. James F. Edwards,
I do sincerely thank you for your late answer to mine, respecting a second marriage of widows whose husbands served in the Revolutionary War. I am truly grateful to you, Sir; and also for your attention to the subject so soon.
I now send the application of an aged widow for a pension. She is in low circumstances and needs assistance. If she obtains a pension, it may help to smooth her way to alleviate her in her decline.
As soon as the Hon. Commissioners can attend to her application I make return (to Benj. Ely, Simsbury, Conn.) I feel confident it will be done.
Gratefully & Respectfully yours — Benjamin Ely

3869
Ann Mills
$31:33 per ann
Benj. Ely Simsbury 6a2

I, Luther Higley, a justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, who am one of the witnesses to the declaration of Ann Mills, (on another part of this paper) do certify, that I was personally acquainted with the said Ann when she was the wife of Benjamin Dyer & when she was his widow; and when she was the wife of Jared Mills, & since, & that she is now the widow of said Jared Mills. — Canton August 15 th 1843
Luther Higley Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut ss.
Office of Secretary of State.
I do hereby certify that Luther Higley Esq. is, and on the 15 th day of August, 1843 was, a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed & commissioned, as appears of record in this Office — and that the two foregoing signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said State, this 25 th day of August 1843.
Noah A. Phelps, Secretary of State

State of Connecticut, } ss. Canton, Hartford County. } On this 15th day of August, 1843, personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, Ann Mills, a resident of Canton in the County and State aforesaid, aged ninety years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3rd of March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That her former husband, Benjamin Dyer, was a private in Capt. Abel Pettibone's Company, in Col. Wyllys' Regiment, in the Revolutionary War. That after the death of her said husband, Benjamin Dyer, she was married to Jared Mills — that since the death of her second husband, the said Jared Mills, she has remained & now is a widow. ... That she obtained a pension under the act of July 7th 1838, at the annual amount of thirty one dollars thirty three cents a year, and that her pension certificate is (or was) dated 11th April, 1843 (the word "three" interlined before signing.)
Benjamin Dyer
Ann Mills mark
Luther Higley
Sworn & subscribed on the day and year first above written (she had three interlined before signing) before me Luther Higley Justice of Peace

I, Luther Higley, a justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, who am one of the witnesses to the declaration of Ann Mills, (on another part of this paper) do certify, that I was personally acquainted with the said Ann when she was the wife of Benjamin Dyer & when she was his widow; and when she was the wife of Gard Mills, & since, & that she is now the widow of said Gard Mills. — Canton August 15 th 1843
Luther Higley Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut ss.
Office of Secretary of State.
I do hereby certify that Luther Higley Esq. is, and on the 15 th day of August, 1843 was, a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed & commissioned, as appears of record in this office — and that the two foregoing signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said State, this 25 th day of August 1843.
Noah A. Phelps, Secretary of State

State of New York Onondaga County } ss.
Thomas Dyer of Lafayette  Pompey in the said County being duly sworn says. That he was seventy two years of age in September eighteen hundred & thirty six. That during the whole time of the war of the Revolution he resided in the then town of West Simsbury now the Town of Canton in Hartford County State of Connecticut. That he was well acquainted with Benjamin Dyer then of the said Town of West Simsbury & lived within a short distance of his dwelling house. That in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five the said Benjamin Dyer enlisted as this Deponent verily believes in the Company commanded by one Abel Pettibone. That this Deponent saw the said Benjamin leave his home in Simsbury with said Company to go to Roxbury in Massachusetts as a soldier. That at the end of about six months he this Deponent again saw him on his return. That it was a little more than six months he was absent & it was generally understood in the neighborhood & this Deponent believes he was engaged during that time in the service of the United States. That afterwards & as this Deponent believes in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six he enlisted again in the service of the United States in a company commanded by Captain Zachariah Case. That this was in the month of June. That he then went as this Deponent believes to the State of New York & was gone as this Deponent believes about three months. That it was generally believed in the neighborhood & this Deponent believes that he was at that time engaged in the service of the United States near New York. That afterwards & as this Deponent believes in the year eighteen hundred & seventy eight, he was as this Deponent verily believes engaged as a teamster in a Company under the command of Captain Humphreys in the service of the United States & that he was teaming from Hartford to points on the North river. That he was engaged as this Deponent believes about six months. That afterwards & in the year eighteen hundred & eighty one he was married as this Deponent believes to one Anna Northway. That the said Benjamin is since dead. And further saith not.
Sworn before me this 16th. day of August 1837. H. A. Butt Justice
Thomas Dyer

State of New York } ss. Onondaga County }
Samuel Humphrey, of La Fayette in said County being duly sworn says - That during the time of the War of the Revolution he was a resident of the Town of West Scituate now Canton in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut. That he was acquainted with Benjamin Dyer of said Town living about half of a mile from him. That in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five he was as this Deponent believes enlisted in the Company of Captain Pettibone & was engaged in the service of the United States near Boston for about the term of six months. That this Deponent met the said Company in November of the same year on their return & as this Deponent was going to Roxbury. That it was generally understood & believed in the neighborhood that he was during the said term a soldier in the Army near Boston. That the next year as this Deponent believes the said Benjamin was engaged in the service near New York - that this Deponent was then in the Army & saw the said Benjamin then. That he was then in a Company commanded by Captain Pacheus (sic) & was engaged as this Deponent believes about two or three months but this Deponent does not remember the time. That afterwards in the year seventeen hundred & seventy eight this Deponent was enlisted in the same Company with the said Benjamin under the command of Captain Wheaton Humphreys. That they enlisted for six months & were engaged during that time in leaving from Hartford to different points on the Hudson River - And farther this Deponent says not.
Samuel Humphrey
Sworn before me this 16th day of August A.D. 1837 }
Horace Bute Lustin
I certify hereby that I am well acquainted with Thomas Dyer & Samuel Humphreys both of the Town of La Fayette in the County of Onondaga - That they are both farmers & men of good character & worthy of belief. Pompey August 16. 1837.
H Bute Lustin

State of New York Onondaga County Ss:
I, Henson Edwards Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County (which is a Court of Record) do hereby certify that Horace Pratt Esquire before whom the within and preceding affidavits purport to have been sworn was at the date of the same a justice of the peace in and for said County duly elected and qualified and that I am acquainted with his hand wri- ting and verily believe his name subscribed to the jurats of said affidavits to be his proper hand writing and genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County and subscribed my name this 17th day of August 1837. H. Edwards Clerk

State of Connecticut } to Probate Office Hartford County } District of Canton
I Addison O. Mills Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Canton, in the County & State aforesaid, do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to Said Court, that Benjamin Dyer once the husband of Ann Dyer, (now Ann Mills) died 8 th Feb. 1815.
And I further certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to Said Court that Jared Mills once the husband of Ann Mills (formerly wife of Benjamin Dyer) died 30 th December 1822.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office at Canton this 2 nd day of March 1843.
Addison O. Mills Clerk of the Court of Probate, Canton District.
I Addison O. Mills, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Canton do hereby certify the foregoing to be the original papers shown to & proceedings of Said Court of Probate, in the matter of the application of Ann Mills for a pension; all of which I have connected together by passing a piece of green tape through them under seal in open Court this 2 nd day of March 1843.
Addison O. Mills, Clerk of Probate Court, Canton District.)

8754
State of Connecticut ss.
Office of Secretary of State.
I do hereby certify that Ephraim Mills Esq was, on the 2 d day of March 1843, Judge of the Court of Probate within & for the Probate District of Canton in said State, & was also on said day a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford in s d State — that Roger H. Mills Esq r was on the 31 st day of July 1835 a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Litchfield in s d State — and that Elisha Phelps Esq was on the 25 th day of Feb. 1843, a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford in s d State — each of them having been duly appointed to s r offices respectively & commissioned as appears of record in s r office, & that the signatures aforesaid purporting to be their's respectively are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Public Seal of the said State this 3 d day of March A D 1843.
Noah A. Phelps, Secretary of State.

State of Connecticut to Probate Office
Ann Miller and Benjamin Dyer Box.
Act 1. July 3 80 p 23 Aug 42 m 80.
Cash Compt. 75. 7.12 Cash Case 76. 2
Attnd 9 mo 120 per $31.33
Benjamin Dyer Esq. Simsbury Box.

I Reuben Hepsenger of NewHartford in Litchfield County and State of Connecticut, in the 85th year of my age & being duly sworn, do testify and say — That I was born & brought up in that part of the ancient town of Simsbury in the County of Hartford in said State, which has since been incorporated as a town by the name of Canton. I lived in the neighborhood where I was born till I moved into NewHartford, which is not far from sixty years ago.
That the first of May, as near as I can recollect in the year 1775 I enlisted into a company of which Capt. Abel Pettibone was Capt. for seven months, in the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and was marched from said Simsbury to Roxbury in Massachusetts. Our company at Roxbury, was put into Col. Wyllys's Regiment. Our company was very large, there being nearly one hundred privates. Having served out the time of our engagement at Roxbury & in its vicinity, Col. Wyllys's Regiment was paraded, and General Spencer made a speech to the Regiment. He said the country would be greatly exposed to the enemy if we should leave camp & come home ; and he intreated and urged us to stay another month; and directed all of us who were willing to stay a month longer to club our muskets, when almost the whole Regiment gave consent. There were but a few exceptions. And accordingly we stayed another month. I was a private in said Company under Capt. Abel Pettibone in this tour of eight months.
And I further testify that Benjamin Dyer who died many years ago, lived in that same part of Simsbury, being the West part, in which

I formerly lived, and with whom I was well acquainted, enlisted into the same Company under Capt. Abel Pettibone, and was a private in the same company; that he was marked from said Simsbury in the Company with me, which to the best of my memory was the first or near the first day of May, 1775. He & all our company enlisted for seven months - but he & I, and all, or nearly all our company under Capt. Pettibone, stayed a month after the expiration of the time for which we enlisted, and were then regularly dismissed or released.
Rogers H. Miller Benjamin Ely
Reuben his  X Mark Messenger
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Reuben Messenger, with whom I am personally acquainted and whom I certify to be a credible witness, before me, the subscriber, in New Hartford, in Litchfield County, Connecticut. August July 31st, 1835.
Rogers H. Miller Justice of the Peace
The word "home" between the 12th & 13 lines from the bottom of the former page was interlined before signing.
Rogers H. Miller Justice of the Peace

Simsbury, Con. August 24th 1843.
At Evening.
Hon. James L. Edwards, Sir. —
This town, Simsbury, formerly adjoined Barkhamsted in Litchfield County. Between 30 & 40 years ago, west part of Simsbury & a small part of New-Hartford were incorporated as a town by the name of Canton. — I went this day to Barkhamsted and have got the declaration of the widow Amy Case, relict of Oliver Case, deceased. Her residence is only about 10 miles from mine. —
I enclose her declaration & hope it will meet your acceptance. Also I enclose declaration of Ann Mills. She obtained a pension by virtue of a in consequence of the service of her former husband. Benjamin Dyer. — I assisted both of said widows to procure their pensions, and now again by request have lent my assistance & hope all will be right & will meet your approbation.
If these applications are defective in form or in any way, I shall confidently expect your friendly corrections.
Accept my grateful acknowledgements for past kind favors. — Very Respectfully Yours — Benjamin Dyer
P.S. You will please make returns directed to Benj. Dyer, Simsbury, Con.